Scientists probing deaths of 40 birds

GOVERNMENT scientists are carrying out tests to establish the cause of death of around 40 birds in Poole Park.

Borough of Poole says it is normal for wildfowl to die at the park, but over the past three weeks the numbers of dead birds has been higher than normal.

Initially, samples were sent to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) for specialist analysis, amid concerns the birds could be carrying an infectious disease.

However, Borough of Poole says tests have since ruled out avian flu as a potential cause and insists the bird deaths pose no risk to public health.

Kate Langdown, street scene services manager at Borough of Poole, confirmed: “We have notified Defra of the situation and they are carrying out tests to confirm a cause of death.

“We are currently awaiting the results but initial tests have ruled out bird flu as a potential cause of death. We will continue to monitor the wildfowl in the park and we are confident that there is no risk to the public.”

The deaths have generally occurred around the freshwater lake – and geese, ducks and gulls have all been affected. Wild birds can carry several infectious diseases that can be potentially harmful to humans.

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According to the latest Defra guidance, if more than five wild birds are found dead the department must be notified – to enable tests to be carried out if deemed necessary.

Mrs Langdown said: “Sadly, some of the wildfowl in Poole Park will die each year due to natural causes. However, in recent weeks the number of dead wildfowl found in the park has been higher than normal.”

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Comments (6)

I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks! Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them. Sort it our Poole Council !!!

I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks!
Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them.
Sort it our Poole Council !!!we-shall-see

I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks! Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them. Sort it our Poole Council !!!

Score: 28

we-shall-see says...9:20am Sat 16 Aug 14

*sort it out Poole Council

*sort it out Poole Councilwe-shall-see

*sort it out Poole Council

Score: 14

burgerboy says...12:27pm Sat 16 Aug 14

we-shall-see wrote…

I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks! Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them. Sort it our Poole Council !!!

If it is the skanky filthy lake water that is causing the birds to die what is it doing to the kids that play around the lakes edge......ever thought about that one.

[quote][p][bold]we-shall-see[/bold] wrote:
I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks!
Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them.
Sort it our Poole Council !!![/p][/quote]If it is the skanky filthy lake water that is causing the birds to die what is it doing to the kids that play around the lakes edge......ever thought about that one.burgerboy

we-shall-see wrote…

I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks! Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them. Sort it our Poole Council !!!

If it is the skanky filthy lake water that is causing the birds to die what is it doing to the kids that play around the lakes edge......ever thought about that one.

Score: 1

we-shall-see says...2:32pm Sat 16 Aug 14

burgerboy wrote…

we-shall-see wrote…

I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks! Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them. Sort it our Poole Council !!!

If it is the skanky filthy lake water that is causing the birds to die what is it doing to the kids that play around the lakes edge......ever thought about that one.

Yes, I have thought about that, but If children *were* becoming ill, do you not think we would have heard about it by now? The dead birds have not all died this week, it's been going on for a while now. Children can wash it off if they get their hands dirty - birds cannot escape it - and besides no one has confirmed it IS the water killing the birds, so it's all just supposition at this stage :o/

[quote][p][bold]burgerboy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]we-shall-see[/bold] wrote:
I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks!
Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them.
Sort it our Poole Council !!![/p][/quote]If it is the skanky filthy lake water that is causing the birds to die what is it doing to the kids that play around the lakes edge......ever thought about that one.[/p][/quote]Yes, I have thought about that, but If children *were* becoming ill, do you not think we would have heard about it by now? The dead birds have not all died this week, it's been going on for a while now.
Children can wash it off if they get their hands dirty - birds cannot escape it - and besides no one has confirmed it IS the water killing the birds, so it's all just supposition at this stage :o/we-shall-see

burgerboy wrote…

we-shall-see wrote…

I'm not surprised the poor birds are dying in vast numbers. The state of the lake and pond is disgusting and it stinks! Ever since the sluice gates were closed and the water levels no longer controlled by the rise of the tides, there has been stagnant water covered with pond scum. The poor birds are covered in slime and it simply can't be healthy for them. Sort it our Poole Council !!!

If it is the skanky filthy lake water that is causing the birds to die what is it doing to the kids that play around the lakes edge......ever thought about that one.

Yes, I have thought about that, but If children *were* becoming ill, do you not think we would have heard about it by now? The dead birds have not all died this week, it's been going on for a while now. Children can wash it off if they get their hands dirty - birds cannot escape it - and besides no one has confirmed it IS the water killing the birds, so it's all just supposition at this stage :o/

Score: 2

OKANAGAN 1 says...10:59pm Sat 16 Aug 14

The best thing would be to clean the lake up anyway, open the sluice gates if necessary so the problem can be solved one way or the other. The lake looks a bit slimy to me.

The best thing would be to clean the lake up anyway, open the sluice gates if necessary so the problem can be solved one way or the other. The lake looks a bit slimy to me.OKANAGAN 1

The best thing would be to clean the lake up anyway, open the sluice gates if necessary so the problem can be solved one way or the other. The lake looks a bit slimy to me.

Score: 2

boardsandphotos says...9:24am Sun 17 Aug 14

OKANAGAN 1 wrote…

The best thing would be to clean the lake up anyway, open the sluice gates if necessary so the problem can be solved one way or the other. The lake looks a bit slimy to me.

The last flush was 12th/13th August, Inline with Spring Tide and the 5th flush this year. http://www.boroughof poole.com/leisure-an d-culture/parks-and- open-spaces/poole-pa rk/ Lake water can be exchanged via the sluice gates. Water exchanges can only take place during spring tides. Activities for August: Blue Green Algae monitoring with support from Environment Agency. Flush lake to exchange water (12th/13th August) followed by application of blue dye. Top up barley straw units (Aquatic Engineering).

[quote][p][bold]OKANAGAN 1[/bold] wrote:
The best thing would be to clean the lake up anyway, open the sluice gates if necessary so the problem can be solved one way or the other. The lake looks a bit slimy to me.[/p][/quote]The last flush was 12th/13th August, Inline with Spring Tide and the 5th flush this year.
http://www.boroughof
poole.com/leisure-an
d-culture/parks-and-
open-spaces/poole-pa
rk/
Lake water can be exchanged via the sluice gates. Water exchanges can only take place during spring tides.
Activities for August:
Blue Green Algae monitoring with support from Environment Agency.
Flush lake to exchange water (12th/13th August) followed by application of blue dye.
Top up barley straw units (Aquatic Engineering).boardsandphotos

OKANAGAN 1 wrote…

The best thing would be to clean the lake up anyway, open the sluice gates if necessary so the problem can be solved one way or the other. The lake looks a bit slimy to me.

The last flush was 12th/13th August, Inline with Spring Tide and the 5th flush this year. http://www.boroughof poole.com/leisure-an d-culture/parks-and- open-spaces/poole-pa rk/ Lake water can be exchanged via the sluice gates. Water exchanges can only take place during spring tides. Activities for August: Blue Green Algae monitoring with support from Environment Agency. Flush lake to exchange water (12th/13th August) followed by application of blue dye. Top up barley straw units (Aquatic Engineering).

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